A security document, comprises a printed document and one or more memory circuits adapted to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document, wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorised reader, and wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred. Methods of publishing and of reading such security documents are described.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A security document, comprising: a printed document; and one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly and attached to or incorporated within the printed document at a predetermined position or positions with respect to the printed document, wherein data in each of the one or more memory circuits is protected from access by an unauthorized reader, wherein each of the one or more memory circuits is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or is configured to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, and wherein physical isolation of each of the one or more memory circuits employs one or more tamper-evident strips, and wherein each of the one or more memory circuits provides security for a single portion of the printed document adjacent to the respective one or more memory circuits, wherein the document comprises a plurality of portions to which security can be individually provided.
2. A security document as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more memory circuits is inductively powered.
3. A security document as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more memory circuits receives and transmits data wirelessly at radio frequency.
4. A security document as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more memory circuits includes an antenna that is configured for detection or resistance of physical tampering.
5. A security document as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the security document is configured to identify an authorized bearer of the security document.
6. A security document as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the security document includes means to allow access to a specified asset or assets by the authorized bearer.
7. A security document as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more tamper-evident strips provide a visual indication as to whether or not the one or more memory circuits has been physically tampered with.
8. A security document as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more tamper-evident strips correspond to at least one cut on the printed document provided adjacent to the one or more memory circuits.
9. A security document as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the printed document is a sheet of paper.
10. A security document as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more memory circuits are provided on an external surface of the printed document that is exposed to the environment.
11. A security document as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the memory circuit includes tamper resistance means for resisting tampering of the memory circuit.
12. A security document as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more memory circuits comprises at least two memory circuits.
13. A method of publishing a security document, comprising: a. determining first information for printing in a printed document, and second information for writing to one or more memory circuits for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document at a predetermined position or positions with respect to the printed document; b. protecting the second information from unauthorized reading; c. printing the first information in the printed document; d. writing the second information to one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document; and e. physically isolating the one or more memory circuits so as to inhibit physical tampering or configuring the one or more memory circuits to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, wherein each of the one or more memory circuits provides security for a single portion of the printed document adjacent to the respective one or more memory circuits, wherein the document comprises a plurality of portions to which security can be individually provided.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the one or more memory circuits comprises at least two memory circuits.
15. A method of reading a security document comprising a printed document and one or more memory circuits attached to or incorporated within the printed document, comprising: a. electronically obtaining authorization information enabling the security document to be electronically read; b. reading first information printed on the printed document c. wirelessly powering at least one memory circuit and wirelessly reading protected second information stored in said memory circuit; d. reading, by a document reader device, the second information by using the authorization information; and using the second information together with the first information to assess the validity of the security document.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising comparing the second information to one or more characteristics of a bearer of the security document.
17. A security document, comprising: a printed document; and one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document at a predetermined position or positions with respect to the printed document, wherein data in each of the one or more memory circuits is protected from access by an unauthorized reader, wherein each of the one or more memory circuits is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or is configured to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, and wherein both printed data and data in each of the one or more memory circuits is configured to identify a bearer of the security document, wherein each of the one or more memory circuits provides security for a single portion of the printed document adjacent to the respective one or more memory circuits, wherein the document comprises a plurality of portions to which security can be individually provided.
18. A security document as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the printed document is a sheet of paper.
19. A security document as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the one or more memory circuits are provided on an external surface of the printed document that is exposed to the environment.
20. A method of publishing a security document for a bearer, comprising: a. determining first information concerning the bearer for printing in a printed document, and second information concerning the bearer for writing to one or more memory circuits for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document; b. protecting the second information from unauthorized reading; c. printing the first information in the printed document; d. writing the second information to one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document at a predetermined position or positions with respect to the printed document; and e. physically isolating each of the one or more memory circuits in the printed document so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, wherein each of the one or more memory circuits provides security for a single portion of the printed document adjacent to the respective one or more memory circuits, wherein the document comprises a plurality of portions to which security can be individuals provided.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the printed document is a sheet of paper.
22. A method as claimed in claim 20 , further comprising: providing the one or more memory circuits on an external surface of the printed document that is exposed to the environment.
23. A security document as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the one or more memory circuits comprises at least two memory circuits.
24. A method as claimed in claim 20 , wherein the one or more memory circuits comprises at least two memory circuits.
25. A security document, comprising: a printed document; and one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly and attached to or incorporated within the printed document, wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorized reader, wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or is configured to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, wherein physical isolation of the memory circuit employs one or more tamper-evident strips wherein the memory circuit includes an antenna that is configured for detection or resistance of physical tampering, and wherein the memory circuit includes means for detecting a change in a physical property of the antenna, the change in the physical property being indicative of physical tampering of the antenna, wherein the memory circuit includes means for disabling reading of the memory circuit when the physical tampering of the antenna is detected.
26. A method of publishing a security document, comprising: a. determining first information for printing in a printed document, and second information for writing to one or more memory circuits for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document; b. protecting the second information from unauthorized reading; c. printing the first information in the printed document; d. writing the second information to one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document; e. physically isolating the one or more memory circuits so as to inhibit physical tampering or configuring the one or more memory circuits to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, wherein the one or more memory circuits including an antenna that is configured for detection or resistance of physical tampering; f. detecting a change in a physical property of the antenna, the change in the physical property being indicative of physical tampering of the antenna; and g. disabling reading of the memory circuit when the physical tampering of the antenna is detected.
27. A security document, comprising: a printed document; and one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly attached to or incorporated within the printed document, wherein data in the memory circuit is protected from access by an unauthorized reader, wherein the memory circuit is physically isolated so as to inhibit physical tampering or is configured to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, wherein both printed data and data in the memory circuit is configured to identify a bearer of the security document, wherein the memory circuit includes an antenna that is configured for detection or resistance of physical tampering, and wherein the memory circuit includes means for detecting a change in a physical property of the antenna, the change in the physical property being indicative of physical tampering of the antenna, wherein the memory circuit includes means for disabling reading of the memory circuit when the physical tampering of the antenna is detected.
28. A method of publishing a security document for a bearer, comprising: a. determining first information concerning the bearer for printing in a printed document, and second information concerning the bearer for writing to one or more memory circuits for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document; b. protecting the second information from unauthorized reading; c. printing the first information in the printed document; d. writing the second information to one or more memory circuits configured to be read wirelessly for attachment to or incorporation within the printed document; e. physically isolating the one or more memory circuits in the printed document so as to inhibit physical tampering or to indicate when physical tampering has occurred, wherein the one or more memory circuits including an antenna that is configured for detection or resistance of physical tampering, the method further comprising: f. detecting a change in a physical property of the antenna, the change in the physical property being indicative of physical tampering of the antenna; and g. disabling reading of the memory circuit when the physical tampering of the antenna is detected.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
October 31, 2003
December 18, 2007
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